Life-boat stowage and launching apparatus.



F. W. BOULTON.

LIFE BOAT STOWAGE AND LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATIONFILED FEB. I, 1915. RENEWED JULY 27.1916.

1 ,1 98,81 9. I Patented Sept. 19,1916.

3 SHEETS-$HEET I.

. w b, WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

gl zd'erz'izaf awlfolz 3 a.

TTOR NE Y.

in: .vvwms PETERS rmv mmmurma.w nusmucmu. or c.

F. W. BOULTON.

LIFE BOAT STOWAG AND, LAUNCHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I. 1915. RENEWED J'ULY 27,1916.

1,198,819. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: \Q/

IN VENTOR.

4- E-ed'erzCZZflZaaZloa J M a 3% A TTOR NE Y.

F. W. BOULTON.

LIFE BOAT STOWAGE AND LAUNCHING APPARATUS.'

APPLICATION men FEB. 1. 1915. RENEWED JULY 21,. "H6.

1 1 98,81 9. Patenwd Sept. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

II R III IIIIHI iiir INVENTOR.

BWEEZ.

ATTORNEY.

m: mwms PErERs m, swam-ma wnsumumu, u c.

FREDERICK WILLIAM BOULTON, 0F BOOTLE, NEAR LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

LIFE-BOAT STOVVAGE AND LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Application filed February 1, 1915, Serial No. 5,380. Renewed July 27, 1916. Serial No. 111,752.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WILLIAM BOULTON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Bootle, near Liverpool, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Life-Boat Stowage and Launching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved life-boat stowage and launching apparatus for general use but is particularly applicable to flat bottom collapsible lifeboats which can be stowed edgewise on deck such as disclosed in my British Patent No. 23,452 of 1912.

The principal object of the present invention resides in the providing of a new and novel form of life-boat stowage and launching apparatus whereby life-boats may be stowed upon deck edgewise properly balanced ready for being automatically swung to outboard, horizontal or passenger re ceiving position upon the release of certain displaceable devices.

A further object of the present invention resides in the providing of certain mechanism whereby from the captains bridge or other remote place alllife-boats may be simultaneously released and automatically swung to passenger receiving position and simultaneously lowered from such remote place.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the providing of certain mechanism whereby deck hands or other proper persons may from a position upon deck release any or all life-boats for passenger occupancy and then lower same one at a time from a position immediately adjacent each life-boat.

( )ther and further objects of the present invention reside in the providing of a cer-' tain new and novel arrangement, combination, construction and connection of parts and devices for effecting the above and other results to appear hereinafter.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described and finally pointed out in the appended claims. i

tion. Fig. 2, is a view in plan of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a fragmentary view in side elevation of one of the displaceable elements. Fig. 4, is a view thereof. Fig. 5, is a side view, partly sectioned, of another of the displaceable elements. Fig. 6, is a detail view of a davit socket. Flg. 7, 1s a fragmentary view, in

end elevation, partly sectioned of a detail of construction hereinafter referred to, and Figs. 8, and 9, are respectively views .in side elevation and plan of the winch shown in "Figs. 1 and 2.

In the drawings, there is disclosed a physical embodiment of the invention, the parts being constructed and arranged in a manner best known to me at this time for practising the invention. Obviously, details of construction and general arrangements and combinations of parts may be varied to accomplish the same results without departing from the fair'spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings 1, designates life-boats, which for illustrative purposes are of the flat-bottom collapsible type as shown and described in my aforesaid patent. In practice, a number of these boats are stowed upon deck, edgewise, the outermost boat being arrznged perferably to face wlth its bottom inward. The next boat is arranged so that the boats are disposed bottom to bottom and any further boats. would be arranged with their bottoms facing outwardly. The boats thus stowed rest upon slides 2, arranged perferably at right angles to the axis of the ship, the outer ends thereof being rounded oii" as shown in F1g. 7. According to the present invention, 1mproved davits are used for the launching of the life-boats. As shown each davit 3, has two overhanging arms arranged opposlte to one another and preferably in the same vertical plane. These two arms designated 4, and 5, may be curved at the usual inclination to the main support of the davit and the whole is preferably forged in one piece. The davits are mounted in sockets 6, so as to be freely rotatable therein. In Fig. 6, there is disclosed means for locking the davits in outboard and inboard positions. As shown, the upright of each davit has fixed thereto a collar having pivotal relation with which is a depending curved arm 6, the lower end of which is apertured. The socket 6, is also apertured at 6", so that when the arm 6, is in the position shown in said figure, a removable pin'6', may be caused to engage said apertures to lock the davit in outboard position. The socket 6, is further apertured at 6, so that when the davit is swung at right angles to the position shown in said figure, that is inboard position, the removable pin 6", may be caused to engage such aperture and the aperture in the'arm to lock the davit to place. i The boat lowering falls are secured to the boat ends, and connected with those arms of the davits which lie normally in the'outboard position for launching purposes while the arms of the davits which normally lie in the inboard position are useful when there is being drawn forward the second of a nest of boats while the first is being launched. The inboard arms also can be used to assist in the support of the second boat in its upright position, or further, also for assisting to return the boats to upright stowage position when the same are being hoisted. In the first of the above mentioned cases, referring to the inboard davii; arms, the falls 5, of these inner arms of the davits can be connected to the ends of the inboard boat whereby the same may be permitted to drop or swing forward to the edge of the deck. In the second working condition the falls can connected to the boat ends and over a securing post 5", on the deck. Under the third condition of operationthe lanyards can be simultaneously connected "so that hauling on these when a boat is being raised over the edge of the deck will draw the same up into substantially a vertical edgewise position.

Referring now to the outboard boats. lowering falls 7, secured to the boat ends as at 8, pass over a pulley 9, arranged on the end of each arm l, of the davits 3, these arms 4, normally being in the outboard position as shown and the arms 5, of the davits 3, normally lying in the inboard position. The falls 7 pass from the pulleys 9 downward over guides 10, thence over pulleys 11, arranged at the base'of each davit, see Fig. 7, and thence over a block 12, see Fig. '2,

preferably arranged midway between each pair of davits. This block has a pair of pulleys 13, mounted on parallel axes in the same plane so that the two falls 7, passing ove the same are guided, separately from one another, at right angles to the ships axis inward to a winch A, to be presently described. The boats are lashed to the deck in pairs between each pair of davits with a cover thereover see Fig. 1. The outboard boat together with the cover is first released by mechanism about to be described and the lashing of the second boat may be released subsequently by a deck hand. The boat lashings 18, of the outboard boat may be secured at one end to a device 19, on the deck 17, and passed over the boat in its vertical edgewise position and has secured to its free end a releasable connection 20. This connection as shown comprises a slotted link or ring, see Figs. 3 and 4. The lashings 18, are secured as at 19, and to the device, 19, just described. The 'boat covers 15, are secured at one end to the part 19 and the other end is provided with connections 20, arranged to be secured in the same manner and to be released simultaneously with the .lashings 18, securing the boat.

A description will now be given of the nannerof releasing lashings l8, and cover 15. Immediately adjacent each set of stowed life-boats Lisa relatively shortbar 22, see Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, slidable parallel to the ships deck in guides23. Mounted thereon are a series of hook-like pins 24. These pins are adapted for'free insertion within and withdrawal from the apertures 25, of the bifurcated guides 23. Thus when the slotted links 20 and cover are in the position shown in'Fig. 4', these pins lock the same to place and in the position shown in Fig. 5,the lashings' a nd' cover are free to be'released. In practice, the devices B, are used' for the boat covers and the devices C, for the lashings. Extending throughout the length of the deck or so much thereof as is occupied by life-boats is shaft 60, which operatively connects with eacli of tlieafore'said bars 22. The manner of connectingthese bars with the shaft is'as follows: Each bar 22, as shown'in Figs. 3 and4, have a bracket 26 secured thereto connecting with which through a pin and slot connectio n 27, is a link 28, operated through the instrumentality of bevel gearings29 and 30, from the shaft 60. The shaft 60, in turn is geared to a vertical shaft pro vl'ded at its top with a pinion, gearing with the pinion 31, on the captains bridge ian'd'o'perated through a reducing gearing from a crank 33. R0- tation of this crank 03, will serve to shift all the bars 22, 'and the consequent launching of the outboard boats'will ensue owing to the pins 24, all being drawn out of engagement with the apertures in the cheeks of the guide blocks 23, on the deck, thus releasing the slotted links of the lashings and covers. A duplicate of this mechanism is upon the other side of deck, as is all the parts described herein. Because each outboard boat 1, is supported by its davits and falls, in a properly balanced position the turning of the shaft 60, by the captain will release simultaneously all the lashings and covers and permit each outboard boat to automatically swing outward in horizon tal position over the side of a vessel for passenger reception. In this connection, it is to be observed that tension is maintained upon the falls 7, so that a corresponding stress is maintained with respect to the outboard arms 4, of the davits. WVith the re lease of the lashings, the davit arms spring up, thus canting a life-boat so that it antomatically slides out over the vessels edge. By means of the pin and slot connection be tween the bracket 26, and link 28, the arrangement on the captains bridge is quite independent of the deck launching device about to be described.

In the deck operative device, an operating handle 34, is connected, see Fig. 5, with each bar 22. Directly the lever 34, is shifted to the position shown, the lashings and cover will be released upon a single boat. Thus a single lifeboat may be launched without effooting the other life-boats which is sometimes desirable.

lVith the life-boats in horizontal or passenger receiving position, it is essential that the boats may be lowered and raised by mechanism under the control of the captain as well as deck hands. For this purpose, winch A, is provided for each pair of davits. This winch may be of ordinary construction but according to the present invention, it is provided with an improved brake gear so that the launching of the boats may be directly controlled from a remote part of the vessel as the captains bridge or from the deck. The drum 37, of each winch has keyed to it, a gear wheel 38, adapted to alternately mesh with a pinion 39, fixed to the shaft 40, and with a pinion 41, on the shaft 42. In the position shown in Fig. 2, rotation of the shaft 42, by hand or power will turn rapidly the drum 37, which is useful when the falls have to be hauled up again after the launching of a boat to be ready for the launching of a second boat. In the case in which it is necessary to haul up a boat and restore the same to the boat deck, then it is preferred to drive through reduction gearing. In this event, the shaft 42, is displaced endwise through its bearings so that the pinion 41, comes out of engagement with the gear Wheel 3.8, see Fig. 9. Theshaft 40,

is then also displaced by means of the handle 43, so that the gear wheel 44, will mesh with the pinion 41, and the pinion 39, with the gear wheel 38. Rotation of the shaft 42,

will then rotate the drum 37, slowly and consequently allow of hauling up of a heavy boat. Displacement of the shaft 42, from the position shown in Fig. 2, without displacement of the shaft 40, will free the drum 37, to allow a boat to be lowered. The rotation of the drum 37, is controlled by a brake consisting of a pair of brake shoes 45, having cheeks 46, and 47 the cheeks 46, being provided with nuts 46 threaded to engage respectively with right and left handed portions of a spindle 4S, controlled by a hand wheel 49, or the like. It will be seenthat by operating the handle 49, the lowering of the boats one at a time can be controlled from the boat deck.

To control the loweringof the boats from some remote point such as the captains bridge, the same may be accomplished mechanically, pneumatically or electrically.

In the preferred form as shown, the brake cheeks 47, of the brake shoes 45, are connected to toggle links 50,pivoted at 51, to the base plate of the winch. They are pivoted intermediate their length to nuts 52, engaging with right and left handed threaded portions respectively on a spindle .53, operated through bevel gear 54, from a shaft 55. This shaft see Fig. 2, extends throughout the length of the deck and connects with a vertical shaft 56, up to the captains bridge, to be operated therefrom by mechanism similar to the boat releasing mechanism and which is preferably disposed adjacent the side of the vessel so that a person on the captains bridge may lean over the side and efliciently control the lowering of all boats simultaneously. In order to efliciently guide the brake shoes for the winch and to prevent these bindings by an undue motion of either, controlling shackles 57, are connected to the brake blocks by pivots 5S and to cheeks 59, on the base plate respectively.

What I claim is:

1. A life-boat launching apparatus embracing a series of davits, a life-boat operatively balanced between each set of davits, falls under tension operatively connected with said boat, displaceable mediums for re taining said boats in balanced position against the tensicn'of said falls and means operatively connecting from a remote part of a vessel with each of said displaceable mediums for simultaneously releasing all lifeboats in the series to permit said life boats to swing outboard automatically.

2. A life-boat launching and lowering apparatus embracing a series of davits, a lifeboat operatively balanced between each pair of da-vits, falls under tension operatively means operatively connecting from a remote part of a vessel with each displaceable medium, boat lowering mechanism for each pair of davits and means operatively connecting from a remote part of the vessel to each boat lowering device whereby the boats may be simultaneously launched automati cally, and simultaneously lowered.

3. A life-boat launching apparatus embracing a series or" davits, a life-boat between each pair of davits operatively balanced, falls under tension operatively connected with said life boats, displaceable mediums for each pair 01": davits for retaining the boats in such position against the tension of said falls, means operatively connecting with each displaceable medium for releasing a single life-boat and independent means op eratively connecting from a remote part of a vessel with each of said releasable mediums whereby all of said boats may be simultaneously launched automatically.

4. A life-boat launching and lowering apparatus embracing a series of davits, a lifeboat operatively balanced between each pair of davits, a displaceable medium for each pair ofdavits for retaining the boats in such position, means operatively connecting with each of said mediums for releasing them separately, means for releasing them simultaneously, boat lowering mechanism for each pair of davits, means operatively connecting with said mechanism for lowering a single boat and means operatively connecting with said mechanism for simultaneously lowering all the boats.

5. In combination a life-boat operatively balanced on edge between davits, complemental falls under tension operatively connecting the said life boat, retaining means for maintaining the boat in said balanced position against the tension of said falls and a displaceable element for releasing said retaining means to permit the boat to automatically swing outward to a horizontal or passenger receiving position.

6. In combination a vessel equipped with a life-boat operatively balanced on edge between davits, complemental falls under tension operatively connected with said lifeboat maintaining the boat in balanced position and a displaceable element for releasing said retaining means operable both from a position adjacent and remote from said boat.

7 In combination a vessel equipped with a life-boat operatively balanced on edge between davits, complemental falls under tension operatively connecting with said lifeboa-t, boat lashings for maintaining the boat in balanced position, the free end of said lashings being each provided with an element for the temporary engagement of a displaceable element and an endwise shiftable medium equipped with means for engaging said elements, whereby upon the displacement of said shiftable element, said life-boat may automatically swing outward to horizontal or passenger receiving position.

8. A life-boat launching and lowering apparatus comprising davits each having a pair of arms formed integral therewith and disposed opposite to one another in the same vertical plane, one set of arms being adapted for an outboard position in the lowering of boats, while the other set of arms are adapted for an inboard position in the drawing outboard of a second boat to launching position and means including a winch operatively connected between said davits and life-boats for lowering and raising the same.

9. A hfe-boat launching and lowermg apparatus comprising a brace of davits each having an outboard and an inboard arm formed integral therewith and disposed op-' posite to one another in the same vertical plane, a life-boat releasably lashed between said davits, means for releasing the lashings, a winch, and falls under tension connecting with the boat ends and passing over pulleys of the outboard arms to pulleys at the davit bases and thence over a pair of pulleys mounted on parallel axes in the same plane to said winch.

10. In combination a life-boat launching and lowering apparatus embracing a pair of davits each provided with a brace of arms disposed opposite to one another in the same vertical plane, life-boats balanced between said davits, a winch, falls connecting under tension with the outboard boat ends and the outboard arms of the davit with the winch, lashings for maintaining said outboard boat in said position, a displaceable medium for releasing the lashings to permit said boat to automatically swing outward to horizontal 01- passenger receiving position and falls connecting the inboard boat and the inboard arms of the davit for swinging outward the inboard boat.

11. Life-boat launching apparatus embracing davits, an outboard lifeboat balanced, between the davits, falls under tension operatively connecting with said boatends and the outboard arms of the davits, lashings for maintaining said boat in said position, one end of each lashing being fixed and the free end provided with an eye or ring, and an endwise shifftable bar provided with lashing eye or ring engaging mediums whereby upon the release of said lashings by said bar, the boat may automatically swing outward to passenger receiving position.

12. In a boat launching mechanism, davits, outboard and inboard life-boats operatively stowed therebetween, lashings for swing to a passenger receiving positlon, free 10 maintaining the boats in said position at of the cover and lashings.

least the outboard boat lashings being re- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto leasable from a remote part offa vessel, a signed my name.

cover for said boats, one end 0 said cover being similarly releasable, a displaceable ele- FREDERICK WILLIAM BOUI'TON' ment for releasing said lashings and cover, Witnesses: and a shiftable medium for releasing said WILLIAM J. JACKSON, element, to permit the outboard boat to HELEN M. BYRNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

